This was the game in hand that Chelsea and Tottenham had over rivals Arsenal, yet it was a good result for Arsene Wenger's team and it means Spurs' chances are now out of their own hands.

All three contenders now have two games left in their fight for the two remaining Champions League places.

For long periods of a free-flowing game, Chelsea were the superior team and looked capable of picking up the three points that would have all but guaranteed a top-four berth.

Not only did they conjure up two clever goals before the break, but they had several opportunities to put the game out of sight after the interval.

As the game wore on, though, Chelsea tired, perhaps understandably so when playing their 66th game of the season.

And in scoring one superb goal and creating another, Adebayor had an inspired game, during an evening when PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year Gareth Bale was subdued.

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Chelsea were 'too open' - Benitez

Chelsea, who maintained an unbeaten run against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge that stretches back to 1990, began the match at a frantic pace with Juan Mata shooting over twice either side of Chelsea's opener.

When it came after 10 minutes, it was the Spaniard who supplied the corner, with Gary Cahill flicking on for Oscar to head in at the back post.

Spurs probed in the first half too, with Lewis Holtby and Kyle Walker just off target.

With 11 league goals in his last 11 appearances, Bale has been the chief contributor to Tottenham's Champions League ambitions, but he was well marshalled by the Chelsea defence early on.

And Adebayor stepped out the Welshman's shadow after 26 minutes to score a goal which matched some of Bale's superb strikes this season.

The Chelsea defence backed off, in part down to a clever run by Aaron Lennon, but the Togolese player took full advantage by curling his strike deftly into the top corner from 25 yards.

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Spurs showed character - Villas-Boas

The hosts' lead was restored seven minutes before the break with another good goal, this time from Ramires, who beat Hugo Lloris with a toe-poke after being played through by Fernando Torres.

Although Torres could not end his Premier League goal drought, the Spanish forward was proving a menace as Chelsea threatened the Spurs goal several times after the break.

The 'Three Amigos' of Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard were sweeping through the Tottenham midfield but a Ramires slip denied Chelsea a further goal, the Brazilian losing his footing when he was set to shoot.

Given that Chelsea played nine games in April, their energy was admirable and their lead looked comfortable.

But their concentration appeared to dip towards the end and Tottenham stole a hugely valuable point when Benoit Assou-Ekotto fed Adebayor and a smart backheel set up substitute Sigurdsson for a smartly-taken goal.

Bale fired over as Spurs searched for a winner but a draw was still a decent return after Chelsea wasted so many chances.

Just meant you always need a some luck to win the CL. Messi doesn't usually miss penalties! But then we were unlucky in 2005, 2006, 2007 2008, 2009!

It was a horrible season in the league and the 2004-5, 2005-6 and 2009-10 sides were stronger. But we were brilliant in the CL and deserved to win it. The media's anti-Chelsea alright. Hope it's Jose next season. Come on the Chels!

Are you sure Chelsea lucky to win C/L. Don't be silly, that is what the media said.Chelsea beat top Germans,benefica,Napoli, Barcalona and bayen on there own ground and they where lucky, don't you understand our media.

288 buggersbellboys go away, he called me mate and i pointed out that i aint his mate, hardly the science of rockets n'est pas?well if the shoe fits, eh ?!rafa has done a far better job than rdm who got them to 6th and won the CL by pure chance, all you plastics like carlosmoron & buggersbellboys are simply clueless with your rafa-bashing.......

Rafa often makes questionable decisions in regard to team selection and substitutions. Moses and Yossi were negative subs and their presence cost CFC the 3pts. i am glad Rafa is on his way out. he is consistently inconsistent. nobody wants that.

The substitutions were strange but a point v Spurs, who needed a win isn't bad. Rafa's been ok so far and if he hands over to Mourinho, having qualified for the Champions League, he will have done a decent job.

@282FoolioLeChaufferTelling someone they "ain't your mate" is off topic and calling them a moron is a bit offensive. Joke's gone too far.

284 - well lets hope if CFC lose a game its the Europa Cup final cos i couldnt handle all the plasticos banging on about winning a trophy that has been so beneath them for the last 10 years. Now its the best thing since sliced bread....muppets.

I do like Villa Boas (even though I am an Arsenal fan), he talks well. Well its all set up now for a nail biting couple of games, I think Ars, Chel and Spurs all have a loss in them in their last games...first to blink!

279 carlosmoron a) i aint your mate;b) i don't care who you have a photo of - how is that in any way shape or form related to the game last night?c) i have a signed programme of spurs vs someone signed by perdo mandez- good point i've made there, eh?!d) they aint your team - you don't own them - RA does......

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